The Genius Game ITV Review: Sharp Looks, Blunt Edges — A Puzzle Without Heart

My Genius Game ITV review, is anyone free to have a Zoom to explain it to me?

I still don’t know what the prize is? I saw a crown for £10,000,000 but that seems quite excessive even for a network desperate for ad dollars and viewers.

The difference between Claudia and David is driven by the fact he’s not in the room, there’s no empathy, it’s not his fault but he feels over-scripted and inauthentic.

It’s made at one of my favorite studios, Maidstone, and my favorite Korean company came up with the idea, so I feel bad that I didn’t like it.

And just a note on casting, it needs a boy from Leeds George Town who talks like a tiktoker and satisfies all the stereotypes of a shoplifting, vaping school dropout, only to find he can play the piano and articulate with poetry in music and words. Or a single mum from Tottenham with two kids living in a mould-ridden rental. Even a blonde with toothbrushes glued to her eyelashes, breaking a nail on one of the puzzles. Then all 3 of them dazzle with their genius and shame the entire audience for judging people by the cover and not the words within. That is great tv. 11 educated elite, even with northern accents, doesn’t hack it. Sorry, as a former director of Krypton Factor, which aimed to showcase genius as egalitarian to educate the audience away from judgmental behaviour, this annoyed me. Page 3 weakest link, secretaries v solicitors on test the nation. This is how we challenge prejudice, our confirmation or unconscious bias. This is how we elevate our tv beyond the “we are clever” flat dimension. Sorry it looked great, was shot well but I wanted more, and I wanted to understand it. I hope destination x doesn’t disappoint.

Jonathan

Clarifying the Prize Structure

The £10 million crown featured in the “Gold Heist” game is indeed symbolic and serves as a high-stakes visual element within that specific challenge. The actual prize fund is built through garnets, the show’s in-game currency, each valued at £1,000. As of Episode 2, contestants have collectively earned 15 garnets, totaling £15,000 in the prize fund . The final cash prize awarded to the winner will be the total value of garnets accumulated throughout the series

Genius Game ITV Review Production Details

Genius Game Host

David Tennant leads the show as “The Creator.” Best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Broadchurch, Tennant brings a commanding presence to this high-stakes competition.

Genre & Contestants

Genius Game is a reality competition featuring 11 members of the public, each selected for their strategic thinking and social acumen. Contestants include a forensic scientist, a DJ and NHS doctor, a PhD student, and a comedian/poker player. Their diverse backgrounds contribute to the show’s dynamic interplay of intellect and strategy.

Synopsis Genius Game ITV review

Adapted from the South Korean series The Genius, Genius Game challenges contestants with a series of complex games designed to test their intellect and social manipulation skills. Each episode features a Main Match, where players compete for immunity, and a Death Match, where the loser of the Main Match selects an opponent for a head-to-head elimination game. Garnets, the show’s in-game currency valued at £1,000 each, can be used to gain advantages and form alliances. The contestant who outlasts all others is awarded the title of “The Genius” and a cash prize.

Channel & Premiere

Genius Game premiered on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK on April 30, 2025. The series consists of eight episodes, airing weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Key Creatives

  • Creator: Adapted from the South Korean format The Genius.
  • Production Company: Remarkable Television.
  • Executive Producers: Tamara Gilder and Anna Kidd.
  • Director: Anna Kidd.

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